Player Page

Weather | Roster

Matt Birk | Center

Team: Baltimore Ravens
Age / DOB:  (36) / 7/23/1976
Ht / Wt:  6'4' / 310
College: Harvard
Share: 

Latest News

Recent News

Ravens C Matt Birk is retiring from football.
He'll make the announcement on Friday. Birk, 36, will go out on top as a Super Bowl-winning center and 16-game starter for the Ravens. A Harvard alum and the 2011 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Birk earned six Pro Bowl trips -- all with Minnesota in the 2000s. He continued to play at a very high level into his mid-30s and had gas left in the tank even as he retired. For bookkeeping purposes, Birk's retirement "saves" the Ravens $2.05 million in salary cap space. It also creates yet another needy spot on GM Ozzie Newsome's roster. Feb 22 - 6:47 AM
Source: Baltimore Sun

Highest Searched Players over the last 7 days


Player News

Date:
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

According to the Ravens, C Matt Birk has scheduled "an announcement" at a community event on Friday.

Longtime Ravens beat writer Jamison Hensley, now an ESPN blogger, "guesses" Birk will announce his retirement. Birk is 36 and would be going out on top. His retirement would add center to Baltimore's growing list of offseason needs.
Source: Jamison Hensley on Twitter
Feb 22 - 1:10 AM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Ravens C Matt Birk, 36, is still undecided on his future.

"I haven't decided," Birk simply said after the Super Bowl victory on Sunday night. 37 in July, Birk has two years left on his contract, and he has graded out favorably in Pro Football Focus' end-of-the-year ratings the past couple seasons. Baltimore has his replacement, 2012 fourth-rounder Gino Gradkowski, waiting in the wings.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
Feb 4 - 8:48 AM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Ravens C Matt Birk, 36, says the outcome of next Sunday's Super Bowl will not affect his decision to play a 16th season.

"It won’t matter either way," insisted Birk, a six-time Pro Bowler. "Nobody is entitled to or deserves a Super Bowl and certainly if anybody does, it certainly isn’t me. ... Whether we win or lose, I don’t think it will affect me." Birk has considered retirement each of the past two offseasons.
Source: Sports Radio Interviews
Jan 24 - 6:21 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Ravens C Matt Birk (back spasms) missed his sixth straight practice Saturday, and is unlikely to suit up for Baltimore's preseason opener Thursday.

"(I) am going to probably slow him down a little bit," said coach John Harbaugh. "... Maybe next week after the (preseason opener), we will get him back a little bit more." Birk's body is wearing down at age 36, but he hasn't missed a game since the 2005 season. We suspect he will be fine for Week 1.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 05:16:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Ravens C Matt Birk (varicose vein surgery) participated in Baltimore's first training camp session Tuesday.

"I feel better," Birk said. "(The doctors) say it’ll help me feel better during the season. My leg won’t get as fatigued. So it’s a good thing." Birk has dealt with multiple injuries the past few seasons, but hasn't missed a game since 2005. He graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 8 center in 2011.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 10:34:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Ravens C Matt Birk underwent surgery to repair a varicose vein issue.

It's not an unexpected surgery, as the procedure had been planned for some time. Birk won't take part in mandatory minicamp, but he should be good to go for training camp.
Source: Jeff Zrebiec on Twitter
Tue, Jun 12, 2012 05:38:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Ravens re-signed C Matt Birk to a three-year contract.

Birk mulled retiring for almost two months after the end of the regular season, but has been in constant talks with the Ravens since late-February. A 14-year veteran four months shy of his 36th birthday, Birk remained one of the league's top centers in 2011, but there's a good chance 2012 will be his final season.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Fri, Mar 16, 2012 02:46:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

The Ravens and C Matt Birk continue to have contract negotiations.

Birk's agent said he took some calls from other teams since free agency started, but he's trying to work out a deal with Baltimore first. It sounds like the Ravens want to keep Birk rather than getting a younger option in free agency.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 11:02:00 AM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

A source with knowledge of C Matt Birk's thinking tells Profootballtalk the free agent wants to play "a couple more years."

In late February, Birk told PFT Live that he doesn't want to play anywhere but Baltimore. The Ravens can push the position to the back burner in the draft if Birk is re-signed for two more years.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBCSports.com
Thu, Mar 8, 2012 02:03:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

The Ravens are scheduled to meet with the agent for Joe Flacco and free agent C Matt Birk in the next seven to 10 days for contract talks.

Birk has no plans to retire before his age-36 season, and he made it clear last month that his preference is to stay in Baltimore. "We want to have him back if he wants to come back," coach John Harbaugh said at the Combine.
Related: Joe Flacco
Source: Carroll County Times
Tue, Mar 6, 2012 04:17:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

The player rep for free agent C Matt Birk says he has opted against retirement, and that "the Ravens seem to want him back."

Birk "feels great," and is hopeful of re-signing with the Ravens before the start of free agency. The two sides have reportedly already begun negotiating. Birk told PFT Live in January that he would only play the Ravens if he decided to return in 2012. Five months shy of his 37th birthday, Pro Football Focus rated Birk as the league's ninth best center in 2011. He should be able to work something out with the Ravens in relatively short order.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
Sat, Feb 25, 2012 04:16:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Free agent C Matt Birk told PFT Live Friday that he will decide between retirement and re-signing with the Ravens in 2012.

He doesn't want to play anywhere else. Birk would be entering his age-36 campaign, although he's got enough gas left in the tank for one more solid year. Birk will decide his future after his body "heals up" from the season.
Source: Profootballtalk on NBC Sports
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 02:04:00 PM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Following Sunday's loss to the Patriots, Ravens C Matt Birk said he has not decided if he will retire.

Birk, 35, will talk it over with his family. "We'll see, we'll see," Birk said. "This will sting a little bit. Just take time, get away for a while." CBS' Charley Casserly reported last week that Birk will hang up the cleats.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Mon, Jan 23, 2012 10:37:00 AM
Matt Birk - C - Ravens

Following Sunday's playoff win, Ravens C Matt Birk disputed a CBS report that he's already decided to retire after the season.

"No, I haven't made that decision yet and I don't know Charley Casserly," said Birk of the CBS reporter who claimed he'll hang 'em up. "I don't even know who he is, I don't know him, he didn't talk to me." Birk's age (going on 36), bad knees, and expiring contract still lead us to believe he's a prime retirement candidate, especially if he goes to his first career Super Bowl.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter
Sun, Jan 15, 2012 07:03:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Joe Flacco
2Tyrod Taylor
3Caleb Hanie
4Dayne Crist
RB1Ray Rice
2Bernard Pierce
3Anthony Allen
4Damien Berry
5Bobby Rainey
GLB1Ray Rice
2Bernard Pierce
3RB1Ray Rice
2Bernard Pierce
FB1Vonta Leach
2Kyle Juszczyk
WR11Torrey Smith
2Tandon Doss
3Aaron Mellette
4David Reed
5Omarius Hines
WR21Jacoby Jones
2Tommy Streeter
3Deonte Thompson
4LaQuan Williams
5Gerrard Sheppard
6Marlon Brown
WR31Tandon Doss
TE1Dennis Pitta
2Ed Dickson
3Alex Silvestro
4Matt Furstenburg
K1Justin Tucker